Wi-to laughed, and the laugh was not forced, but merry and spontaneous.
“Again you are right!” said he. “My Prince offered twice to take me away with him to see the outside world, and I refused—for the very reasons you have given. Now I will ask another question. Why should I not divide the treasure with Mai Lo and remain here to enjoy it? No one would know where my wealth came from.”
“I cannot answer that,” said I, musingly; “if you are faithless enough to do such a thing.”
“He is not faithless,” persisted Joe.
“Then you are answered, Wi-to,” I declared, laughing.
“I see I must answer my own question,” said the eunuch. “This estate will become the property of the Celestial and August Emperor, because Prince Kai left no heir to inherit it. It may stand for many years unoccupied, and in that case I may lead a life of ease and be the real master here. If the Celestial and August Emperor should bestow this estate and palace upon some mandarin or high official, it is the custom to retain the services of the Chief Eunuch who has before ruled the household. So, in any event, I have no incentive to be faithless.”
“Will you allow Mai Lo to carry out his plan to rob the ancestral halls?” inquired Archie.
“No. You are right in thinking that the governor and I are not friends, for he has tried to interfere with my rights, and that I will allow no man to do. Outside the palace walls Mai Lo commands the province of Kwang-Kai-Nong; within this enclosure my word is law. But he has one privilege within my domain which I cannot refuse him. By virtue of his office he is the sole protector of the chih, or ancestral halls of the House of Kai. He alone has the right to enter there, now that the noble Prince Kai has gone to the Genii. For myself, although I have guarded the entrance for many years, I have never seen the interior of the building, nor do I know the way to the vaults beneath it. But although Mai Lo may enter the halls he must not remove any of the treasure that belongs to those ancestors of the House of Kai that lie buried there. It will be my business to prevent that.”
“Very good,” said I. “And now, Wi-to, since you have seen the written instructions of Prince Kai, how do you intend to treat us who are here to represent his interests?”
“You shall be honored guests in this palace,” was the prompt reply.